Definition of gross & fine motor skills

Written by susan corey

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Motor skills sychronize muscles for body movements. (child/ boy playing on a slide image by L. Shat from Fotolia.com)

Motor skills involve the function of muscle movements in the entire body. There are two groups of motor skills. Gross motor skills direct performance of large muscle groups, and fine motor skills control precision of muscle movements in the body.

Fine Motor Skills

Fine motor skills coordinate precise, small movements involving the hands, wrists, feet, toes, lips and tongue. Features of fine motor control include handwriting, drawing, grasping objects, cutting and controlling a computer mouse. Experts agree that one of the most significant fine motor achievements is picking up a small object with the index finger and thumb referred to as the pincher grip, which usually occurs between 8 and 12 months of age.

Significance

Motor control requires awareness and planning for the execution of a task from the central nervous system to muscles. Motor skills require muscle strength, coordination and normal sensation to manage and synchronise body movements.